Adjustable mechanism for tube mill rolls



April 12, 1949. N. D. ABBEY 2,467,071

ADJUSTABLE MECHANISM FOR TUBE MILL ROLLS Filed Oct. 28, 1946 2Shets-Sheet 1 ITj-l- 1 INVENTOR. NBLEUNZZABBEY 9 WLZJ/M Ap 2, 1949. N.D. ABBEY 2,467,071

ADJUSTABLE MECHANISM FOR TUBE MILL ROLLS Filed 001,. 28, .1946 2Sheets-Sheet 2 ITS-4k v FIE-3- IN VEN TOR. NFL SUN 17 ABBEY rolls islaterall Patented Apr. 12, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,467,071ADJUSTABLE MECHANISM FOR TUBE lVIILL ROLLS Nelson D.- Abbey, Toledo,Ohio Application October 28, 1946, Serial No. 706,150

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to the manufacture of .metal tubing andparticularly to a tube mill in which substantially a continuous metalribbon is shaped into tube form and then seamed.

The invention has for an object the production of a new and improvedassembly employing cooperating forming rolls between which the metalstrip is guided and shaped into tubular form.

Other objects of this invention are to produce ina tubing mill a formingroll assembly having a pair of cooperating rolls adapted to be adjustedvertically and laterally with respect to each other by new and improvedmeans; to enable vertical adjustment of one roll relative to the otherrapidly and accurately to be made in a novel and eflicient manner; andto enable minute lateral or axial adjustment of one roll relative to theother rapidly and accurately to be made without the necessity of usingtroublesome and time consuming spacing devices.

Other objects and advantages of the invention reside in the novelfeatures of the construction, arrangement, and operation as willhereinafter appear, and for purposes of illustration but not oflimitation, an embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings in which,

Figure l is avertical sectional view of a forming roll assembly;

Figure 2 is a sectional line 22 of Figure 1 Figure 3 is a sectional viewtaken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

I Figure 4 is a rear end elevation of the roll housing, and

Figure 5 is a. fragmentary elevation showing a pair of forming rollsmisaligned or out of operative relation to each other.

In the usual tube mill a plurality of cooperating pairs of groovedforming rolls are employed to engage portions of an interposed metalstrip. The rolls of each pair are annularly con-toured in such mannerthat upon engagement with the view taken along the -metal strip, it isworked in stages gradually to be transformed from a flat metal stripinto a continuous tube. The stepwise formation, as effected by theoperation of successive pairs of rolls, enables tubing continuously andrapidly to be produced from an endless metal ribbon.

. Manifestly such successive high speed operations present many factorsaffecting not only the quality of the product, but the continuity of theprocess.

For example, if one roll of a pair of forming y offset from the other,as illus- 2 trated in Figure 5 of the drawings, the side thrustoperating on the interposed rapidly moving metal strip is such as willcause the material to shift in the lateral direction and jump frombetween the forming rolls, thereby to interrupt the process. Even thoughthe metal strip may not become unthreaded, as when the material issubstantially enclosed by the contoured forming rolls in the latterstages of the process, the effect of the offset is improperly to Workthe strip in a manner to produce an unsuitable tube due to out ofroundness, and to produce surface imperfections as a result of theironing action between the metal strip and the offset rolls. Instancesalso irequently arise wherein an interchange of rolls is desired, orvariation of the operating pressure between the rolls and material isnecessitated, and in such instances it is expedient to provide meansenabling vertical adjustment of one roll support relative to the otherwithout disturbing their driving relation or alignment.

For such purposes, I provide for each pair of forming rolls a rollhousing having a driving shaft and a driven shaft on which the pair ofrolls are respectively mounted, the driven shaft being adapted bodily tobe adjusted radially or vertically and longitudinally or axiallyrelative to the driving shaft without disturbing their driving relationor alignment. This enables one roll of each pair to be adjusted radiallyor axially with respect to the other roll. 7

Since each roll housing is substantially the same, the principaldifference between the various sets of rolls residing in the contour ofthe rolls, a description of one assembly is considered sufiicient.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated upper and lowercooperating forming rolls l0 and H fixed to the end portions of upperand lower shafts l2 and i3 respectively which extend longitudinallythrough and are journaled in a roll housing H. The roll housing isformed of upright front and rear frame plates 14 and I5 seated ingrooves l6 and I1 respectively in a sub base or platform I8. Integralframe arms l9 and 20 extending upwardly in parallel relation from theupper end portions of each frame plate l4 and i5 divide the roll housinginto upper and lower sections 2| and 22 respectively, (Figure 3), andmounted in the upper end of each frame arm is a gear housing 23.

The upper shaft 12 is journaled in a floating section 24, and is adaptedto be vertically and longitudinally adjusted relative to the upper framesection 2|, but the lower shaft I3 is stationarily journaled in thelower frame section 22. Thus, by means later to be described, the uppershaft is vertically and longitudinally adjusted relative to the lowershaft.

The forming rolls l and II are each keyed to reduced end portions oftheir respective shafts and these end portions project outwardly beyondthe front frame plate l4. Sleeves or spacers 26 and 21 on each shaftrespectively are interposed between a shoulder 28, formed by the reducedend portion, and the adjacent roll, and also between the opposite faceof each roll and an end nut 29 which threadably engages a threaded endportion 3|] on each shaft. Removal of either roll is made possible byunscrewing the respective end nut 29 and removal of the spacer 2?.

Roller bearing units 3| and 32 in the front and rear frame plates l4 andI5 respectively engage spaced portions of the lower shaft l3, thereby toenable free rotational movement.

A lock nut 33 which threadably engages a threaded portion 34 of theshaft l3 abuts the lower race of the bearing unit 32 to operate as astop preventing rearward shifting movement thereof. The inner race ofthe bearing unit 3| abuts a shoulder 35 on the shaft l3 and preventsforward shifting movement of the shaft. Interposed between the bearings3| and 32 are spacers or sleeves 36 and 31. The spacer 31 is disposedbetween the forward end of the lower race of the bearing unit 32 and aspur gear 38 which is keyed to an intermediate portion of the shaft. Thespacer 3B is disposed between the other side of the gear 38 and therearward end portion of the lower race of the bearing unit 3|. Thus, itwill be apparent that the lower shaft I3 is held against axial or radialmovements but is free to rotate.

Cap members 39 and 40 are suitably secured 6| rectangular in crosssection and of substantial thickness dimensionably adapted slidingly tofit between the forward and rearward frame arms respectively and to beflush with the front end rear edges thereof. Roller bearing units 62 and63 mounted in central apertures in the housing plates 60 and Elrespectively support the upper roll shaft |'2 to enable free rotationalmovement. Similarly assembled, as described with reference to the lowerroll shaft l3, a lock nut 64 secured to the threaded end portion 65 ofthe shaft, spacers 66 and 61, and a spur gear 68 keyed to anintermediate portion of the shaft |2 between the spacers, are disposedon the shaft. As assembled, the above parts are not moveablelongitudinally or vertically relative to each other.

Cap members 69 and 10 are bolted to opposite sides of the plate 60 toconceal the opening in which the bearing unit 62 is mounted. An annularflange H in each cap member engages the peripheral edge portions of theplate aperture to prevent relative vertical shifting movement, and isspaced from the side walls respectively of the upper race of the bearing62 to enable limited longitudinal shifting movement thereof. To enablevertical adjustment but to militate against rearward shifting movementof the entire floating section 24, the lateral edge portions of thefront cap member 69 overlaps a portion of the front wall of the framearms l9 and 2|].

A sleeve 12 is interposed between the outer race of the roller bearingunit 63 and the wall of the aperture in the rear plate 6|. An inwardlyextending flange 13 integral with the forward end of the sleeve 12engages the forward end wall of the upper race of the bearing unit 63.An annular sleeve 74 extending forwardly from a cover plate fits withinthe sleeve 12 and bears against the rear end wall of the upper race ofthe bearto the front and rear faces respectively of the 40 ing unit 63.The ends of the sleeves l2 and 14 front frame plate [4 and substantiallyenclose ,the opening 4| in which the roller bearing unit 3| and theshaft l3 are mounted. An annular flange 42 on each cap'member firmlyengages the peripheral wall defining the opening 4| in the frame plateand abuts opposite side walls of the upper race of the bearing unit 3|,thereby to prevent longitudinal shifting movement of the beargages theinner periphery of the opening 43 to,

cooperate in preventing shifting movement, but they do not extend.

Bolted onto the rearward end portion of the cap member 44 is a housing4'! into which the rear end portion of the lower shaft I3 extends. Theouter end of the housing 41 is closed by a cover plate 48 removably heldthereon by bolts 49. Extending transversely through the lower portion ofthe housing 4! is a power driven shaft 50 having a worm 5| in engagementwith a worm gear 52. The worm gear 52 is keyed to a reduced end portion53 of the shaft I3. The worm gear 52 abuts a shoulder 54 formed by thereduction in shaft diameter, while the other side is engaged by an endcap 55 secured to the shaft I3 by bolts 56. Normally, the housing 4'! ispacked with a lubricant, such as grease, which is prevented from leakinginto the roll housing by a sealing ring 51.

The floating section 24 mounting the upper shaft l2 comprises a pair ofhousing plates and are connected by bolts 15a, thus the upper shaft andthe entire sleeve assembly is adapted to move bodily longitudinally ofthe floating section, the movement being limited by the spacings betweenthe sleeve and shaft parts and the adjacent flanged surfaces of the capmembers.

Another cap member 16 is secured to the forward wall of the plate 6| toconceal the opening therein, an annular flange 11a on the cap member 16being spaced from the sleeve 12 to enable the longitudinal adjustmentpreviously mentioned. It may be here pointed out that the requiredlongitudinal shaft adjustment in order to eifect the desired relativeposition between rolls is ordinarily very small, preferably notexceeding of an inch.

Controlled longitudinal or axial adjustment of the shaft l2 relative toits housing is effected by means of a non rotatable set screw 11. Thehead 18 of the set screw fits in a correspondingly shaped socket in therear wall of the plate 6| and is held in place by means of a cap member19 suitably secured to the plate 6|. The lateral edge portions of thecap member 19 overlap the rear wall of the associated frame arms andassist in guiding the floating section vertically but militate againstrelative forward shifting movement thereof. The threaded shank of theset screw extends through and threadedly engages an ear 8| integral withand extending upwardly from the sleeve 12. Lock nuts-82 and 83 engageopposite sides of the ear and by loosening one and tighteningthe other,minute longitudinal shifting movement of the sleeve l2, andcorrespondingly the entire shaft I2 can be effected. The

entire upper shaft assembly in this manner is axially shifted bodilyrelative to the lower shaft thereby to shift the roll it crosswise oraxially relative to the roll Vertical adjustment of the floating section24 is effected in response to the actuation of a pair of screw-threaded,non-rotatable bolt members 94 and 85, the head end portions 85 of whichare held against turning in sockets in the upper surfaces of the plates59 and 9! respectively. Apertured plates 91' secured to the uppersurfaces of the plates 69 and El respectively embrace the held ends 89of the bolts to hold them in place. 88 and 89 are a pair of worm gearssupported in the housing 23, previously described. Cap members 9i and 92close the upper open end portions of the gear housing and integraldepending sleeves 99 bear against the worm gears.

Each worm gear 88 and 89 is centrally apertured and threaded operativelyto engage the threaded shank 93 of the bolt members respectively. Thus,upon rotation of the Worm gears, in response to turning movement of acommon worm 9 3, which extends longitudinally through the housing, eachbolt is uniformly actuated in the vertical direction, concomitantly tocarry the floating section therewith. Each cap member 9| and 92 isprovided with a cup shaped end cap 95 for receiving the respective boltwhen actuated upwardly.

Extending forwardly of the spiral gear housing 23 is a spindle 99, whichis integral with the worm 94. The spindle end is adapted to receive acrank (not shown) for manually actuating the same, the amount of turningmovement being indicated by a dial 98 for control purposes. In thismanner, merely by turning the worm in one direction or the other asdesired, the floating section, which is constantly in balanced relation,thereby to militate against binding or bearing wear, may be actuatedrapidly in one direction or the other for roll interchange purposes, orfor minutely and accurately adjusting the upper roll l0 vertically withrespect to the lower roll I I.

For the purpose of maintaining a driving re lation at all. times betweenthe roll shafts l2 and 13 even though the upper driven shaft isvertically and longitudinally adjusted relative to the lower drivingshaft, there is provided a pair of intermediate spur gears? 9% and 99. Ashaft 199, which carries the upper spur gear 99, is journaled in bearingportions lill which are connected by links m2 to bearing sections I99.The bearing sections Hi9 are mounted on sleeves i04 which are integralwith the cap members "if! and it respectively. The link is of a lengthpermanently to maintain full meshing relation.- ship between the spurgear 9:3 and the gear 99 on the upper shaft 92. Gear 99 is maintained infull meshing relation with the gear 98 and in turn meshes with the gear38 keyed to the lower shaft I 3 by means of a link M35. The linkconnects the bearing portions I9! with the bearing sections I95 whichprovides mounting for a shaft 91 for the gear 99, and sleeves lat. Thesleeves I98 of the link I95 rotatably engage sleeves 199 which areintegral with and extend laterally of the cap members Mi and d3.

From the description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, it ismanifest that I have produced a continuously operating tube mill inwhich each pair of forming roll mounting shafts is journaled in animproved roll housing. In the housing, one roll shaft, which is mountedin a floating section, is adapted to be driven by the other throughgearing connected by linkage which maintains the gears in full meshingrelation even though one shaft is adjusted vertically and longitudinallyrelative to the other. Longitudinal shifting movement of the one shaftwith relation to the other is simply and readily effected merely by theactuation of a single screw member. which effects the desiredlongitudinal movement, bodily along its own axis, of the entire shaftstructure within the floating section. Vertical adjustment is as readilyobtained and controlled by means effecting the adjustment of guidedfloating section, which includes a ,le driving member for actuating thefloating section mountingmeans uniformly in one vertical direction orthe other without the danger of misalignment or such unbalancing aswould result in the binding of the shaft mounting bearings.

It is readily apparent that considerable saving in time and improvementin accuracy results from means enabling the adjustment of one roll shaftvertically or longitudinally relative to the other in response to theactuation of a single member. Thus there is eliminated the arduous andtime consuming task of balancing the adjusted shaft or its mountingmeans and the danger of damage to the equipment as a result ofmisalignment or subsequent shifting of parts.

It is to be understood that numerous changes in the details ofconstruction, arrangement and operation of part may be effected withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention, especially as defined in thefollowing claim.

I claim:

In a tubing machine, tube forming mechanism including a pair ofcooperating forming rolls, parallel driving and driven shafts for saidrolls, means for supporting said driving and driven shafts includingsleeve means rotatably carrying said driven shaft, roller bearings forsaid driven shaft carried by said sleeve means, at least one of whichbearings is fixed to the driven shaft to prevent relative axial movementbetween the two, and means for axially adjusting said driven shaftslightly relative to said supporting means, said adjusting meansincluding a flanged slidable sleeve member forming part of said sleevemeans and engaging said fixed roller bearing in a manner to effect axialmovement thereof in either direction, a non-rotatable screw secured to afixed portion of said supporting means and extending parallel to thedriven shaft and extending through the flange of said sleeve member anda nut on said screw on each side of the flange of said sleeve member sothat by loosening one nut and tightening the other axial adjustment ofthe sleeve member is effected in one direction or the other.

NELSON D. ABBEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,653,709 Johnson Dec. 27, 19271,925,542 Rafter Sept. 5, 1933 2,122,615 Johnston July 5, 1938 2,150,202Blevins Mar. 14, 1939

